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Fightning The Pack Rat
by Cathi Stevenson
Helpful tips on spring-cleaning
We all have a little bit of "pack rat" in us. Some of us just can't throw or give things away. Others compound the problem by purchasing more stuff - two of everything, because "you never know when it's going to come in handy".
If your attic has two sewing machines and your closet has enough of those "they will fit again" clothes in it to make a quilt that would stretch from Nova Scotia to British Columbia - it's time to fight the rat.
Clean up shouldn't be that difficult a task. If you don't want to do it all at once, (and who does?), set regular periods one day a month when you will tackle at least one room. A friend recently remodelled her kitchen on a shoestring, and was left with much less cupboard space than before. For one year, ten boxes of kitchen items have been neatly stacked in her basement and not once has she looked for anything. Those items will be given away or sold. She probably shouldn't look in the boxes before getting rid of them. That will likely result in more unnecessary stuff being moved into the kitchen.
Be absolutely ruthless when deciding what goes and what stays. If you have to think about it, get rid of it. You will only have to keep moving it around and cleaning it over the years.
Moves are great for cleaning out junk. A friend recently reported that while planning for his family move, he told his children they were responsible for packing their stuff and sorting it out in the new house. He also advised that they might want to consider whether to give some things to charity. He and his wife were pleasantly surprised to find how much the children were prepared to give up. He doesn't know if it was the charity angle or the thought of having to lug that stuff along to the new house and he doesn't care.
When doing your own brand of clean out, here are some points to consider when deciding on each item: Have you used it in the last year and if so, do you want to keep it another year? If not, get rid of it. If it has monetary or sentimental value, you should keep it to avoid later regrets. If you think, "you never know when it's going to come in handy", it probably never will and is only adding to your clutter.
Simply don't have enough space to organise efficiently? Try these tips:
Purchase some plastic baskets at the $1 store and use them on the top of bookshelves in the family rooms, children's bedrooms or office area. Since the top shelf is usually reserved for keepsakes it shouldn't be a problem for most people. The baskets will offer fast and easy storage for those things that never seem to fit anywhere else, such as hair accessories, small toys, pens and pencils and craft supplies. These same baskets work well in bathrooms, under the sink. What better place to store bath toys, partially used bath oils, extra soaps and shampoos?
CD storage towers are another great way to clean up an area without breaking the bank. The vertical stacking towers use less space and can be a real blessing when it comes to keeping those areas around the computer, video game stations and sound system clear of clutter.
Does a wave of paper float off your refrigerator door each time you close it too quickly? Magnets can only do so much, but you might be missing out on an even better location to keep those notes and bits of important information: the front and back door. If either of your doors are metal, then buy some attractive magnets and make use of them. This is especially handy for paying the milkman or newspaper delivery person, just use the magnet on the outside of the door to hold the envelope.
About the Author
Cathi Stevenson is a former editor and journalist who has sold more than 2000 articles world-wide. Her eBook "How To Publish & Market Your eBook For Just $5" made the publisher's best sellers' list within months of its release. Learn how she did it with tips from the Author's Cafe Newsletter. Sign up at: http://www.authorscafe.com. Cathi also owns the highly successful book cover design company: Book Cover Express. http://www.bookcoverexpress.com
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